Naming Alkynes

Definition of Alkynes:

Alkynes are organic chemical compounds that include a triple covalent bond between two carbon atoms.

That is, alkynes are the class (or category) of organic hydrocarbon compounds that include a part consisting of two carbon atoms attached to each other by a triple covalent bond, which is usually represented in molecular diagrams as three parallel straight lines between the carbon atoms attached together by that triple bond.

Alkyne molecules can vary in size up to very long molecules most of which consist of carbon atoms attached to each other and also to hydrogen atoms.

Names of Alkynes in General

Alkynes are named according to the same system as other organic compounds, with the suffix -yne used to designate the presence in the molecule of a triple carbon-carbon bond.

The first step is to consider the number of carbon atoms forming a chain. If they are attached together in a linear (i.e. unbranched) configuration then the number of carbon atoms is indicated according to the same system as used for naming alkanes. See the examples listed in the table below.

However, if the carbon atoms do not form a linear chain but include branches, the longest linear chain of carbon atoms within the molecule determines the base of the name of the compound, onto which is added information about the branches incl. their lengths in terms of the number of carbon atoms in each branch (i.e. methyl- indicates a branch consisting of just one carbon atom attached to the main chain, ethyl- indicates a branch of two carbon atoms in length, etc.) and their positions along the longest linear carbon chain (e.g. attached to the 2nd carbon, 3rd carbon, etc.).

The simplest linear alkynes are named and their structures shown in the following table.

Names and Structures of simple Linear Alkynes

The homologous series of linear alkynes with the triple bond attached to the first (= last) carbon atom is shown below.

Carbon atoms in chain

Name

and simple formula

Simple Structure

showing bond types but not accurate bond angles

Previous / Other Names*Examples not complete lists

2

ethyne (C2H2)

CHCH

acetylene

acetylen

ethenylene

ethine

ethin

vinylene

3

propyne (C3H4)

CH3CCH

1-propyne

prop-1-yne

methylacetylene

methyl acetylene

allylene

propylene tetramer

4

butyne (C4H6)

CH3CH2CCH

1-butyne

but-1-yne

butyne-1

ethylacetylene

ethyl acetylene

5

pentyne (C5H8)

CH3CH2CH2CCH

1-pentyne

pent-1-yne

acetylene

6

hexyne (C6H10)

CH3CH2CH2CH2CCH

1-hexyne

hex-1-yne

butylacetylene

n-butylacetylene

7

heptyne (C7H12)

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CCH

1-heptyne

hept-1-yne

amylacetylene

8

octyne (C8H14)

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CCH

1-octyne

oct-1-yne

hexylacetylene

9

nonyne (C9H16)

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CCH

1-nonyne

non-1-yne

10

decyne (C10H18)

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CCH

1-decyne

octylacetylene

Ethyne (C2H2)

Simple Formula:

HCCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

acetylene

acetylen

ethenylene

ethine

ethin

vinylene

Propyne (C3H4)

Simple Formula:

CH3CCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

1-propyne

prop-1-yne

methylacetylene

methyl acetylene

allylene

propylene tetramer

Butyne (C4H6)

Simple Formula:

CH3CH2CCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

1-butyne

but-1-yne

butyne-1

ethylacetylene

ethyl acetylene

Pentyne (C5H8)

Simple Formula:

CH3CH2CH2CCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

1-pentyne

pent-1-yne

acetylene

Hexyne (C6H10)

Simple Formula:

CH3CH2CH2CH2CCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

1-hexyne

hex-1-yne

butylacetylene

n-butylacetylene

Heptyne (C7H12)

Simple Formula:

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

1-heptyne

hept-1-yne

amylacetylene

Octyne (C8H14)

Simple Formula:

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

1-octyne

oct-1-yne

hexylacetylene

Nonyne (C9H16)

Simple Formula:

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

1-nonyne

non-1-yne

Decyne (C10H18)

Simple Formula:

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CCH

Simple Structure:

*Examples of other / previous names:

1-decyne

octylacetylene

Why stop at ten carbon atoms (in the chain) ? It doesn't ... there are more similar alkynes. We stopped here due to page width.

Important Note: *The synonyms indicated for compounds listed above are just some examples of alternative names found online and believed to have been used to refer to the substance indicated. They have not all been verified and may include common (non-scientific) names, trade names specific to particular suppliers, and perhaps errors. The purpose of these lists is to give a general indication of the range of names by which alkynes are known.